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Buying
Horns
This page has been added due to an overwhelming need for
information and guidance buying "good" instruments.
There are many great resources for buying instruments out
there. Several catalog and Internet dealers actually have
comprehensive information on selecting the right instrument
and how to go about it. Below are just a few basic suggestions
to keep you out of trouble.
- A recommendation from your private teacher or band director
should be the first place to start.
- Generally speaking, the new Yamaha student instruments
are excellent for beginners and you can play on them for
years after graduating from the beginner stage. There are
many manufacturers other than Yamaha, some good and some
not...get recommendations!
- Purchasing used instruments is often a very economical
choice, HOWEVER they must be checked out by a professional
player, teacher or repairman to insure they are in good
playing condition....otherwise...buyer beware!
- When opting to upgrade from a beginner instrument, avoid
intermediate models and go right to professional models.
An intermediate model will usually satisfy the needs of
a good high school player, however a professional instrument
will be needed for college or advanced study. A good rule
of thumb is always to buy the best instrument you can afford.
- Saxophones - When choosing professional
quality saxophones, Selmer and Yamaha are the obvious and
popular choices. Keilworth and Yanagisawa are lesser known,
yet good quality instruments. There are many manufacturers
other than these four, some good and some not...get recommendations!
- Mark VIs - Not all Selmers are good.
Not all Yamahas are good. You get the picture. The Selmer
Mark VI is the definitive choice among professionals.
This has driven prices up over the last decade or two
and caused quite a fury over the buying and selling
of these instruments. They were manufactured from the
mid 1950s until the early 1970s. Selmer produced the
Mark VII for a few years in the 1970s, but they never
really caught on. You can find some exceptional deals
on used Mark VIIs, however it is a completely different
instrument and does not have the resale value of a Mark
VI. In general, I would recommend trying the new Selmer
Series III and Yamaha Customs before deciding that the
Mark VI is the only way to go. There's nothing like
a GREAT Mark VI, but you must find it and PAY FOR IT!
Check out Ebay, as they always have several in varying
condition for sale. Unfortunately, you can not try them
out before purchasing which is the single most important
step in selecting an instrument.
- Flutes - Gemeinhardt and Yamaha are my
two favorites among student and intermediate flutes. Silver
content is what drives the sound and price. The more silver,
the better it sounds and the more it costs. The models I
often recommend to students are the Gemeinhardt 3SH, 3SHB,
Yamaha 385, 481H and 581H. If you need more than a Yamaha
581H (around $2000+ retail), you will likely have to spend
$4000 or more to get a significantly better instrument.
Expensive flutes can be made out of other materials, such
as gold which greatly affect tone quality. The high end
market is full of great choices and a private teacher/orchestral
player should be involved in helping you with your decision.
Haynes and Powell are the old standard, but there is Brannen-Cooper
and many good Japanese flute makers as well...get recommendations!
- Clarinets - Again, Yamaha makes great
beginner and intermediate clarinets. Plastic or resonite
bodies make up most beginner clarinets and wooden (Grenadilla)
clarinets begin with the intermediate models. Among professional
clarinetists, the Buffet R-13 is the standard. They have
been manufactured since 1955 and the R -13 is still a current
model from Buffet. Recently (1994) a composite material
has been used to produce the R-13 Greenline, which is made
mostly out of Grenadilla wood powder. It is supposed to
resist cracking, a common problem with wood instruments.
The Selmer 10G and Leblanc Concerto and Opus are excellent
choices as well. There is some concern over used clarinets
being "blown out", which means they have lost
their original playing quality and resistance. When shopping
for a used wooden clarinet, it is extremely important to
have the aid of a professional.
- Piccolos - Gemeinhardt and Yamaha are
excellent entry level choices. Silver head, plastic body
is the way to go in the beginning. Later, Grenadilla wood
is the standard among professional line piccolos. Yamaha
YPC-62 is a great piccolo for the money ($1000+ retail).
If you need more instrument than that, as with flutes, there
a MANY good choices. Seaman, Zentner, etc.
- Where to buy new? - There are two basic
choices: 1) Local Music Store 2) Internet/Catalog discount
stores. Personalized service and the ability to try the
instrument on the spot is the main advantage of a local
music store. Service and maintenance is another issue. Internet/Catalog
discount stores offer many choices at usually cheaper prices,
HOWEVER service after the sale will likely be on your own,
unless you want to ship the instrument back and forth. Any
store you purchase an instrument from should give you the
opportunity to play the instrument before you buy....or...give
you the opportunity to return it within a few days for a
refund.
- Where to buy used? - Reputable stores,
pawn shops, Ebay, classified ads, word of mouth. It doesn't
matter where or how, just two things to remember: 1) Enlist
the help of a private teacher or professional musician you
respect 2) Play the instrument before buying or have the
option of returning it within a few days
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